Chicago Fire Soccer Club Earns 1-1 Draw Against New York Red Bulls In Home Opener

Jeff Larentowicz scores 6th minute header

March 23, 2014

Chicago Fire Communications

CHICAGO(Sunday, March 23, 2014) – The Chicago Fire (0-1-2, 2 points) played the New York Red Bulls (0-1-2, 2 points) to a 1-1 draw on opening day at Toyota Park on Sunday afternoon. Jeff Larentowicz headed home a Harry Shipp corner kick in the 6th minute before Dax McCarty equalized for the Red Bulls in the 21st minute as the two sides shared the points.

The Fire next take on D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday, March 29, at 3:00 p.m. CT on the NBC Sports Network. The following week, the Fire return home and welcome the Philadelphia Union to Toyota Park on Saturday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley).

Single game tickets to the Fire’s 16 MLS Regular Season home matches and to the July 26 international friendly against Barclay’s Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur FC are now available via Ticketmasterandwww.Chicago-Fire.com.

-Victor Pineda, the first Homegrown Player in Fire history, made his competitive debut when he entered the match in the 71st minute.

-Defender Greg Cochrane made his Fire debut today, earning the start at left back in place of the injured Gonzalo Segares.

-Today marked the 500th MLS Regular Season game for the Fire. With the draw, the Fire move to 216-171-113 all time in regular season play.

-With the start, Fire ‘keeper Sean Johnson recorded his 103rd match, tying Evan Whitfield for 15th on the club’s regular season appearance list.

-Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko missed the match due to a red card that he received in last week’s match against the Portland Timbers. Also missing was defender Lovel Palmer, who on Friday received a two-match suspension from the MLS disciplinary committee for a foul against Portland Timbers forward Maximiliano Urruti in the 42nd minute on March 16.